GB2291736A - Transducer - Google Patents
Transducer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2291736A GB2291736A GB9414429A GB9414429A GB2291736A GB 2291736 A GB2291736 A GB 2291736A GB 9414429 A GB9414429 A GB 9414429A GB 9414429 A GB9414429 A GB 9414429A GB 2291736 A GB2291736 A GB 2291736A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- winding
- transducer
- core
- portions
- wire
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- G10H3/00—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means
- G10H3/12—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument
- G10H3/14—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument using mechanically actuated vibrators with pick-up means
- G10H3/18—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument using mechanically actuated vibrators with pick-up means using a string, e.g. electric guitar
- G10H3/181—Details of pick-up assemblies
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
Abstract
Figure 1 shows generally at 10 a transducer in the form of a pick-up for an electric guitar (not shown). The pick-up comprises a laminated high-silicone steel core 11 around which are wound first and second portions of a coil 12, 13 of electrically conductive insulated wire. The first portion 12 of the coil is wound around the core in a first direction and the second portion of 13 of the coil is wound the core in a second, opposed direction. One end 12a of the coil is connected to earth and the other end 13a of the coil is connected to matching transformer 14. The output of the pick-up is taken across an earth connection 16 (negative output) and a positive connection 17. In use, an amplifier (not shown) is connected to 17. The number of turns of the "reverse wound" portion 13 of the coil relative to the number of turns of the "forward wound" portion 12 of the coil may be anything from 1% to 100% according to the required characteristic of the pick-up. Variation of the relative number of turns affects both noise level and tonality of the sound produced. <IMAGE>
Description
TRANSDUCER
The present invention relates to a transducer and is concerned particularly, although not exclusively, with a transducer for use in an electrical musical instrument such as a guitar.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a transducer for an electrical musical instrument, the transducer comprising a core and a winding, the winding comprising first and second portions of electrically conductive wire wound at least partly around the core, characterised in that the first portion of the winding is wound around the core in a first direction, and the second portion of the winding is wound around the core in a second direction, substantially opposed to the first direction.
The first and second portions of the winding may comprise a single portion of wire.
The first and second portions of the winding are preferably of unequal length.
In a preferred arrangement the first portion of winding is wound around the core in a forward direction and the second portion of winding is wind around the core in a reverse direction, such that, in use, electrical signals induced in the first and second portions of the winding are of generally opposite phase.
In a preferred arrangement the first and second portions of the wire are wound around a common core.
Preferably, the core is of a laminated construction and may be of a high-silicone steel type.
In a preferred arrangement a matching transformer is used to match the impedance of the transducer with the impedance of an amplifier with which the transducer is associated in use.
Alternatively or additionally, a pre-amplifier may be used to match the impedance of the winding with the impedance of an amplifier with which the transducer is associated in use.
The number of turns around the core of the second portion of the winding may be a fraction of the number of turns around the core of the first winding.
The second portion may be equal in the number of turns around the core to that of the first portion.
Preferably, the winding is of low to medium impedance and may have an impedance in the range of 0.5kn to 1.5kin.
There may be provided switching means, switchable between a first condition in which, in use, signals induced in the first portion and second portion of winding are generally out-of-phase with each other and a second condition in which signals induced in the first and second portions of winding are generally in-phase with each other.
The transducer may comprise two cores and two windings, each winding having a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions of the windings being wound in generally opposed directions with respect to each other.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a transducer for an electrical musical instrument, the transducer comprising a core and a winding, the winding comprising two portions of electrically conductive wire wound at least partly around the core, characterised in that the first and second portions of wire are of different thickness.
The transducer may be according to any statement herein.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method on constructing a transducer for use in an electrical musical instrument, the method comprising winding a first portion of electrically conductive wire around a core in a first direction and winding a second portion of the wire around the core in a second direction, substantially opposed to the first direction.
Preferably, the method includes winding the portions of wire such that the resultant coil or coils are of low impedance and preferably are of an impedance in the range 0.5us to 1.5kin.
The method may include winding first and second portions of the wire which portions are of unequal length.
The method may include arranging the winding such that, in use, signals induced in the first and second portions of wire are switchable between a generally in phase condition and a generally out-of-phase condition by a switching means.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a transducer for use in an electrical musical instrument, the method comprising winding together first and second wires around a core, the first and second wires being of different thickness.
The method may include arranging the winding such that in use, signals induced in the first and second wires are switchable between a generally in-phase condition and a generally out-of-phase condition by switching means.
Preferably, the method includes winding the wire such that the resultant coil or coils are of low impedance, and preferably of an impedance in the range 0.5kin to 1.5kin.
The invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein.
The invention may be carried in to practice in various ways, but specific embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows, schematically, a circuit of a transducer according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the transducer of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of the transducer with switching means,
Figure 4 is a schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of transducer, and
Figure 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of the transducer of Figure 4.
Referring particularly to Figure 1, this shows generally at 10 a transducer in the form of a pick-up for an electric guitar (not shown). The pick-up comprises a laminated high-silicone steel core 11 around which are wound first and second portions of a coil 12, 13 of electrically conductive insulated wire. The first portion 12 of the coil is wound around the core in a first direction and the second portion of 13 of the coil is wound the core in a second, opposed direction. One end 12a of the coil is connected to earth and the other end 13a of the coil is connected to matching transformer 14.
The output of the pick-up is taken across an earth connection 16 (negative output) and a positive connection 17. In use, an amplifier (not shown) is connected to 17.
The coil 12, 13 is wound to have a low impedance, and may typically have an impedance in the range 0.5or to 1.5kin. The matching transformer 14 is used to match the impedance of the pick-up 10 with the impedance of an amplifier (not shown). As an alternative to a matching transformer a pre-amplifier could be used. The number of turns of the "reverse wound" portion 13 of the coil relative to the number of turns of the "forward wound" portion 12 of the coil may be anything from 1% to 100% according to the required characteristic of the pick-up.
Variation of the relative number of turns affects both noise level and tonality of the sound produced.
Figure 2 shows schematically the pick-up in end view.
The laminated core 11 is a rectangular block comprising plates of hi-silicone steel. The two portions 12, 13 of the coil are represented by hatching. At each side of the pick-up 10 are steel reflector plates 18 and 19 which help to reflect much of the incident noise signals produced, for example, by fluorescent lighting, and also to contribute to the tonal quality of the pick-up, particularly when the signal from the pick-up is processed by distortion circuitry. Conventional magnets 20 and 21 are located either side of the core 11.
Figure 3 shows a variant of the transducer circuit including a double-pole-double-throw switch 22. The switch 22 is used to switch between a first condition in which signals induced in the coil portions 12 and 13 are in-phase and a second condition in which signals induced in the coil portions 12 and 13 are out-of-phase. When inphase, the output of the transducer is relatively high and the mid-range frequencies are high, as with a conventional single coil pick-up. When the switch is thrown and the coil portions 12 and 13 are connected out-of-phase with each other the output is lower, although it is still higher than most conventionally available single coil pick-ups. In addition, when the coil portions are connected out-of-phase, a tonal variation occurs in the sound produced by the guitar. Noise levels are also greatly reduced in this configuration.
Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which two cores 23 and 24 are used with two coils 25 and 26, each of the coils 25 and 26 having first and second coil portions 25a, 25b and 26a, 26b. Effectively, the embodiment shown in Figure 4 is that of two pick-ups of the kind shown in Figure 2 joined together with opposing magnetic polarities, the coils 25 and 26 being connected in either series or in parallel.
Reflector plates are not found to be necessary in this embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 shows schematically the circuit of the double pick-up of Figure 4, including switches 27 and 28.
The output of the pick-up is again connected to a matching transformer 29 as described above. The switches 27 and 28 can be used to vary the noise and tonal quality of the signal produced in the pick-up as well as its output by selectively switching the coil portions of the separate coils to be either in-phase or out-of-phase with each other.
The winding arrangements described above are appropriate for most existing types of core and magnetic structure. The above-described transducers enable reproduction of the crisp dynamic sound of conventional single coil pick-ups having high impedance utilising six cylindrical alnico magnets, but with considerably less noise from mains electricity and interference from eg fluorescent lighting. The signal to noise ratio of the dual coil arrangement (Figures 4 and 5) is even higher whereas the output is higher than many conventional high output pick-ups.
Even in the case of the single coil pick-up (Figures 1 to 3) the signal to noise ratio is greater than conventional single coil pick-ups although it varies according to the switching arrangements.
Since the transducer has a relatively low impedance, it has several advantages over higher impedance conventional pick-ups. Firstly, heavier gauge winding wire is used which reduces manufacturing costs considerably since such wire is both cheaper and suffers less from breakages during winding than is the case with lighter gauge wire. Also because lower impedance potentiometers can be used in the circuit, ie conventionally for tone and volume control, they have little or no earth drain effect and better graduation of tonal curves in the output signal. Such potentiometers are conventionally located before the matching transformer in the circuits shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5.
In addition, where passive components such as inductors and capacitors are used in the circuits shown they have greater effect on tonality than they do in a conventional high impedance transducer. Such components need not be used as earthed components as in conventional circuits, but may be used in series with the circuit, thus not creating an earth-drain effect.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its scope.
Claims (24)
1. A transducer for an electrical musical instrument, the transducer comprising a core and a winding, the winding comprising first and second portions of electrically conductive wire wound at least partly around the core, characterised in that the first portion of the winding is wound around the core in a first direction, and the second portion of the winding is wound around the core in a second direction, substantially opposed to the first direction.
2. A transducer according to claim 1, wherein the first and second portions of the winding comprise a single portion of wire.
3. A transducer according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first and second portions of the winding are of unequal length.
4. A transducer according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first portion of winding is wound around the core in a forward direction and the second portion of winding is wound around the core in a reverse direction, such that, in use, electrical signals induced in the first and second portions of the winding are of generally opposite phase.
5. A transducer according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first and second portions of the wire are wound around a common core.
6. A transducer according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the core is of a laminated construction.
7. A transducer according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein a matching transformer is used to match the impedance of the transducer with the impedance of an amplifier with which the transducer is associated in use.
8. A transducer according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein a pre-amplifier is used to match the impedance of the winding with the impedance of an amplifier with which the transducer is associated in use.
9. A transducer according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the number of turns around the core of the second portion of the winding is a fraction of the number of turns around the core of the first portion of the winding.
10. A transducer according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second portion of the winding is equal in the number of turns around the core to that of the first portion of the winding.
11. A transducer according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the winding is of low to medium impedance.
12. A transducer according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the winding has an impedance in the range 0.5kn to 1. 5kin.
13. A transducer according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein there is provided switching means, switchable between a first condition in which, in use, signals induced in the first portion and second portion of winding are generally out of phase with each other and a second condition in which signals induced in the first and second portions of winding are generally in-phase with each other.
14. A transducer according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the transducer comprises two cores and two windings, each winding having a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions of the windings being wound in generally opposed directions with respect to each other.
15. A transducer for an electrical musical instrument, the transducer comprising a core and a winding, the winding comprising two portions of electrically conductive wire wound at least partly around the core, characterised in that the two portions of wire are of different thickness.
16. A transducer substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
17. A method of constructing a transducer for use in an electrical musical instrument, the method comprising winding a first portion of electrically conductive wire around a core in a first direction and winding a second portion of the wire around the core in a second direction, substantially opposed to the first direction.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the method includes winding the portions of wire such that the resultant coil or coils are of low impedance.
19. A method according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the method includes winding first and second portions of the wire which portions are of unequal length.
20. A method according to any of claims 17 to 19, wherein the method includes arranging the winding such that, in use, signals induced in the first and second portions of wire are switchable between a generally in-phase condition and a generally out-of-phase condition by a switching means.
21. A method of constructing a transducer for use in an electrical musical instrument, the method comprising winding together first and second wires around a core, the first and second wires being of different thickness.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the method includes arranging the winding such that, in use, signals induced in the first and second wires are switchable between a generally in-phase condition and a generally out-of-phase condition by switching means.
23. A method according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the method includes winding the wire such that the resultant coil or coils are of low impedance.
24. A method of constructing a transducer, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9414429A GB2291736A (en) | 1994-07-16 | 1994-07-16 | Transducer |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9414429A GB2291736A (en) | 1994-07-16 | 1994-07-16 | Transducer |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9414429D0 GB9414429D0 (en) | 1994-09-07 |
| GB2291736A true GB2291736A (en) | 1996-01-31 |
Family
ID=10758481
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9414429A Withdrawn GB2291736A (en) | 1994-07-16 | 1994-07-16 | Transducer |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2291736A (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2370910A (en) * | 2000-09-18 | 2002-07-10 | John Elliott Petherick | Balanced pickup for stringed instruments |
| EP1233405A1 (en) * | 2000-12-14 | 2002-08-21 | Giovanni Gaglio | Magnetic pick-up device for stringed musical instrument |
| US7078997B2 (en) | 2003-05-09 | 2006-07-18 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Transformer assembly, and power conversion apparatus and solar power generation apparatus using the same |
| US7295095B2 (en) | 2003-05-09 | 2007-11-13 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Electric component and method of producing the same |
| IT201800004611A1 (en) * | 2018-04-17 | 2019-10-17 | MAGNETIC PICK-UP FOR STRING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4372186A (en) * | 1981-02-17 | 1983-02-08 | Aaroe Kenneth T | Humbucking electromagnetic pickup for stringed musical instruments |
| US4442749A (en) * | 1982-08-06 | 1984-04-17 | Dimarzio Musical Instrument Pickups, Inc. | Electrical pickup for a stringed instrument having ferromagnetic strings |
| US4524667A (en) * | 1983-08-15 | 1985-06-25 | Seymour Duncan | Electromagnetic pickup for a stringed musical instrument having ferromagnetic strings and method |
| US4878412A (en) * | 1987-06-22 | 1989-11-07 | Resnick Martin H | Electromagnetic pickup for a stringed musical instrument having ferromagnetic strings and method |
| WO1992013336A1 (en) * | 1991-01-18 | 1992-08-06 | M Hohner Limited | Electromagnetic transducer |
-
1994
- 1994-07-16 GB GB9414429A patent/GB2291736A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4372186A (en) * | 1981-02-17 | 1983-02-08 | Aaroe Kenneth T | Humbucking electromagnetic pickup for stringed musical instruments |
| US4442749A (en) * | 1982-08-06 | 1984-04-17 | Dimarzio Musical Instrument Pickups, Inc. | Electrical pickup for a stringed instrument having ferromagnetic strings |
| US4524667A (en) * | 1983-08-15 | 1985-06-25 | Seymour Duncan | Electromagnetic pickup for a stringed musical instrument having ferromagnetic strings and method |
| US4878412A (en) * | 1987-06-22 | 1989-11-07 | Resnick Martin H | Electromagnetic pickup for a stringed musical instrument having ferromagnetic strings and method |
| WO1992013336A1 (en) * | 1991-01-18 | 1992-08-06 | M Hohner Limited | Electromagnetic transducer |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2370910A (en) * | 2000-09-18 | 2002-07-10 | John Elliott Petherick | Balanced pickup for stringed instruments |
| EP1233405A1 (en) * | 2000-12-14 | 2002-08-21 | Giovanni Gaglio | Magnetic pick-up device for stringed musical instrument |
| US6476309B2 (en) | 2000-12-14 | 2002-11-05 | Giovanni Gaglio | Magnetic pick-up device for stringed musical instrument |
| US7078997B2 (en) | 2003-05-09 | 2006-07-18 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Transformer assembly, and power conversion apparatus and solar power generation apparatus using the same |
| US7295095B2 (en) | 2003-05-09 | 2007-11-13 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Electric component and method of producing the same |
| IT201800004611A1 (en) * | 2018-04-17 | 2019-10-17 | MAGNETIC PICK-UP FOR STRING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9414429D0 (en) | 1994-09-07 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |